The New Zealand Symphony Orchestra and Edo de Waart's second selection of masterworks on Saturday rewarded a well-filled town hall with music that strayed for only eight minutes from the Teutonic straight and narrow.

Two attractive new releases feature Valencia, alongside Katherine Austin, mining the repertoire for cello and piano, both substantial and stocking-filler.

I'm tempted to borrow a phrase from French composer Francoise Sagan and greet Nicola Benedetti and Leonard Elschenbroich with a cheery "Aimez-vous Brahms?" as the couple are about to play Sagan's Double Concerto.

Christophe Rousset, one of the world's top harpsichordists, visits New Zealand next week.

Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra launches its Degenerate, Denounced, Outraged mid-year series. 's adven

Mahler's Third Symphony was the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra's spectacular contribution to the 2009 Auckland Arts Festival.

Working with the legendary Boulez was an unforgettable experience, says Barenboim.

This year sees the return of Unwrap the Music, 3 early evening concerts where conductor Richard Gill introduce pieces coming up in later programmes.

Magdalena Kozena's new Monteverdi album makes one realise why Leo Schrade titled his 1930 study of the Italian, Monteverdi: Creator of Modern Music.

The Black Quartet bring a contemporary touch to classical ensemble music and has played with everyone from Kanye West through to our own Six60.

Poetry and power merged as promised for Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra under the baton of young Spanish conductor Antonio Mendez.

Hopes of adding a Grammy to the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra's awards cabinet have been dashed after the accolade was handed to the Boston orchestra instead.

A Sunday afternoon recital by the Tennant-Austin Duo provided a stylish launch for Auckland's concert year.

Australian Stuart Maunder has led the New Zealand Opera company for the past two years. He directed Tosca, now out in cinemas nationwide, and confesses to an unhealthy obsession with Gilbert and Sullivan operettas.

Playing Gershwin with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra in 2012, Freddy Kempf was a sleek cheetah on the keys, caressing moody chromaticisms into sinuous life.

John Psathas is very much at ease with big projects, as you'd expect of the man whose music opened and closed the 2004 Athens Olympics.

New Zealand concertgoers have developed a taste for the cool, yet vibrant, sound of baroque music delivered in the performing styles of its day.

Uwe Grodd's introductions to Auckland Choral's annual Messiah are becoming as much of a tradition as the musical performances that follow them.